Page 26 of A Kingdom of Monsters

“Why not?”

Again, I found myself at a loss. I was tempted to say that it was not my responsibility, but that wasn’t exactly true. I was the queen, after all, and finally I could understand what Idris wasgetting at. Before the hunts, and especially during the reign of Queen Celia, the Everlasts did throw revels on a weekly basis.

“Are you suggesting I should have a ball? Here? Now?” I said incredulously, waving a hand around the room as if to point out the still damaged castle.

He smiled. “I assume you never had a true coronation feast. Isn’t that something to celebrate? Or perhaps your recent marriage.”

I pressed my lips together, thinking. “I suppose…”

Idris smiled widely at me in an indulgent way, like a favorite grandparent might smile at a child. “I’m merely suggesting you think about it. Not everything in life needs to be so catastrophic.”

With that, he turned on his heel and walked away, leaving me utterly perplexed and no closer to answers than I had been before.

10

SCION

THE OBSIDIAN PALACE, EVERLAST CITY

Islammed my book shut with a snap, and hurled it at the wall. It smacked against the stone with a resounding slap, and slid uselessly to the ground.

Across the room, Ambrose jolted in his seat, eyes wide and eyebrows raised in surprise. “What the fuck was that for?”

“This is pointless,” I grumbled. “I’m fucking done.”

Ambrose pressed his lips together in a tight line, evidently struggling to hold back whatever retort he’d thought of. “Fine, just go then. You’re distracting me, anyway.”

I glared mutinously at him.

We were once again sitting in our grandmother's old study, where we’d been pouring over her journals every day this week. The entire process was mind numbing boredom, punctuated only by frustration every time Ambrose opened his mouth and reminded me he was there.

I got to my feet, pacing the study to work off some of the energy that had been building inside me for days. I wished I could blame my mood entirely on Ambrose, but it wasn’t only him that was the problem.

We were no closer to figuring out the curse than we’d ever been, and I was starting to feel like it might never be broken. Meanwhile, this castle was starting to feel more like a prison than a privilege, and I’d actually started to miss my time in the army. It had been horrible, but at least I had something to do and there were always people around.

Now, the court was practically empty, what with everyone still hiding in Overcast until things could return to normal. Lonnie was spending all her time training, or most recently, grieving her mother. Bael was constantly disappearing or sleeping, which left me with no one for company aside from the one person whom I’d hoped never to see again.

“Stop pacing,” Ambrose barked. “You’re distracting me.”

I glared at him. “I’m not one of your sycophantic minions.”

He looked up. “What does that have to do with anything?”

My lip curled. “I’m merely suggesting that you not try to order me around. You’re still breathing because I allow it, and I’ll withdraw that privilege if you keep testing me.”

His jaw worked, and for half a second his eyes flashed with rage. I could practically see him struggling to hold on to the detached diplomacy he’d been employing since we got off the ship.

“Fine,” Ambrose said through gritted teeth. “Understood.”

My eye twitched. A large part of me had hoped he’d retaliate, just to give me something to do. If he’d attacked me I would haveknown exactly what to do with him, but this new more careful version of Ambrose was unnerving.

“If you have something to say, say it,” I demanded.

“And let you goad me into a fight? I’d rather not. I’m too busy to kick your ass at the moment.”

I scoffed. “I’d like to see you try. I’d melt your brain before you ever drew your sword.”

With what looked like an enormous effort, he sucked in a slow breath and lowered his book. He looked up, finally meeting my gaze head on. “I think you’d do better not to underestimate swords,” he said in a tone of forced calm.“That scar on your face is healing nicely, by the way. How fortunate you are that Lonnie isn’t so superficial as to be disgusted by it. Not all women could be so charitable.”

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